Sundance Square, Ft. Worth, 05/08/09 - Joe Tesatore (l) and Teddy Atlas.

Over the years, I have been privileged to meet several boxing “stars.” The legendary Roberto Duran aside, Atlas must be the nicest man in boxing. No wonder ESPN Friday Night Fights is such a hit with boxing fans. How he comes across on the big screen is how he actually is; then those of us that have had the privilege to spend a few seconds with him come away impressed with how down to earth and what a boxing geek like us he really is. From my view at ringside I watched as he took as much time as necessary with every man, woman, and child that wanted their moment with him. And if the line wasn’t too long he would sit and talk boxing with whomever was in front of him at the time. What a class act.

Sundance Square, Ft. Worth, 05/08/09 - Freddie Roach referred to by many as the #1 trainer in the world today.

Early in the second round the fighters bumped heads, leaving a slight cut on McEwan’s left cheek bone. McEwan started finding his rhythm in this round. Round to McEwan.

In the third, McEwan continued what he started in the second, picking Vera apart. At the end of the round, Vera looked as if he may have been cut. Round to McEwan.

In the fourth, Vera seemed to want to counter to a fault. McEwan was leading and landing but getting out of the way of Vera’s punches before they could land. This was a good round for McEwan, he was ducking under and weaving away from Vera’s looping punches and leaning against the ropes allowing Vera to miss and landing his own shots. Round to McEwan.

In the fifth, McEwan kept Vera guessing by constantly shifting from orthodox to southpaw. It was also in this round the sneaky McEwan came to the surface. Once when the referee couldn’t see he pulled Vera and landed a punch, plus a few other old fighter tactics. Round to McEwan.

Sundance Square, Ft. Worth, 05/08/09 - Craig McEwan (r) lands a jab on Brian Vera.

The seventh was an awesome round. It was toe-to-toe action throughout. Vera opened the round with a strong flurry, which McEwan followed with a flurry of his own. This action went back and forth as if scripted with neither fighter giving ground. Vera took more ground than McEwan was willing to give. At the end of the round Vera was cut over the left eye; still it was Vera’s round.

The eighth round was a slow round compared to the seventh but who could have expected another action packed round this soon. Both fighters were exhausted. An older lady at ringside kept yelling, “He’s tired Brian, knock him out.” I guess she didn’t realize Brian was tired too. Another round for Vera.

In the ninth, McEwan reestablished his dominance. Winning the round handily. I noticed something this round, Vera kept looking into the crowd as if looking for some inspiration.

In the last round, both men were exhausted, neither was holding anything back. Vera showed a lot of heart, but McEwan has a fighter’s heart too, plus the ring savvy to finish a fight. Unanimous decision to McEwan.

Charles Hatley v Carlos Garcia
After Hatley had been declared the winner, referee Neil Young walked over to the timekeepers table and asked, “How many seconds?” [Not minutes, seconds!] Fifty-five seconds to be exact. Three fights, three first round KO’s. A Hatley fan in attendance asked me after the fight, “Can I go watch Hatley train? That may be the only time I get to see him fight more than one round.” I laughed, but it was a sincere question by an astute newcomer to the boxing scene. Yes Cami, I’ll take you to the gym.

Adrien Broner v Fernando Quintero
From the bell, Broner established he was the quickest gun, countering double and triple left hooks over Quintero’s jab. A pattern and a pace he did not let up throughout the fight. In the second, someone behind me made me laugh aloud, “Cuando dice pop pegale.” [When he says pop hit him.] Yeah, Broner was saying “pop” whenever he landed.

In the third, Quintero seemed to find a cure for Broner’s left hook, an overhand right. At the ten second mark, Broner threw three amazingly fast left hooks trying to steal the round, it didn’t work but it looked good. In the fourth, Broner started with speed flurries that seemed to slow down Quintero. Quintero tried his own flurries but lacked the power of Broner. It was in this round Quintero changed styles for the second in two rounds, this time dancing as if he were Ali. This puzzled Broner and Quintero won his second consecutive round.

In the fifth, Broner again starts fast and again Quintero reverts to the style that won him the third round, over hand rights over Broner’s left hooks. Broner was faster, Quintero was busier. Toward the end of the round Quintero caught Broner flush with one of his own left hooks bringing a loud reaction from the crowd. Another round for Quintero. In the sixth, Broner did not let Quintero dictate the round; he kept up his “pop pop” throughout the round. Quintero tried to counter and though he had no power, he had no quit either; still the round went to Broner.

The seventh round found Broner jab, jab, jabbing and keeping Quintero from changing styles again, finding another gear, and his rhythm; round to Broner.  The last round found both fighters going with what brung them. Broner was fast jabbing, sticking, and moving.  Quintero kept trying to counter everything Broner threw but without much success.  Broner pop, pop, popped his way to victory.

Hector Vasquez v Richard Best
In the first bout of the evening, Vasquez was a winner by unanimous decision, winning every round on all the judges’ scorecards. Vasquez simply out boxed and out classed his opponent keeping his jab in Best’s face throughout the fight.  After the fight when I asked Best to explain his loss he said “I’ve been off four years.”  When pressed he offhandedly replied “I got married and stuff.”  Before walking away quickly.

Read North Texas Boxing’s newest writer, Marcellus Silva’s article Oscar de la Hoya’s 6th Annual Fight Night at Sundance Square for the results of the Pedro Dominguez v Gerardo Dominguez and the Carlos Velasquez v Andres Ledesma bouts. You’ll be glad you did.

NTB’s ticket winner James Grant & girlfriend Kristie Ulibarri.

From left, Marcellus Silva, NTB writer, Ex Alba, NTB Executive Editor, ESPN’s Teddy Atlas & Roland Gamez of NTB Roland’s Corner fame.